COOPERATION BETWEEN ITALY AND SAHEL COUNTRIES: COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC MATERIAL, PURCHASED BY THE SANT'ANNA SCHOOL WITH THE CONTRIBUTION OF FARNESINA, TO BE MADE AVAILABLE SOON TO THE JUDICIARY IN NIGER, BURKINA FASO AND CHAD
Cooperation between Italy and the Sahel countries is being further consolidating, thanks to the contribution of the Sant'Anna School in Pisa and the decisive support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI). In addition to the training courses aimed at magistrates from Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad organised between March and May 2022, the Sant'Anna School has recently coordinated the purchase of computer equipment and bibliographic material, which will soon be made available to the local judiciary. It consists of around 40 laptops, with mouse and laptop bag, printers with toner kits, and around 100 volumes on civil, administrative, criminal and commercial law, based on a list of books prepared by the Training School of the Niger Judiciary. The delivery was made possible thanks to the collaboration of the 46th Aerobrigade of Pisa.
The material, intended to improve the quality of the the work of the judiciary and to make it more efficient, will be handed over by the Italian Ambassador to Niger, Emilia Gatto, at the opening ceremony of the course "Techniques for combating international terrorism", which will be attended by magistrates from Niger and representatives of the judiciary from Burkina Faso and Chad.
The organisation of the training courses and the delivery of the computer equipment and bibliographic material are part of the project "Strengthening the judicial systems of the G5 Sahel countries through training" (2021-2022), financed by MAECI and coordinated by Andrea de Guttry, Full Professor of international law at the Dirpolis Institute (Law, Politics, Development) of the Sant'Anna School. The following course have been organized: "Fighting cybercrime and protecting personal data", held on 21-24 March 2022; and three courses to be held in May 2022 on "Techniques for combating international terrorism", Niamey 9-12 May 2022 and "Project management cycle", in Chad from 2-5 May and Burkina Faso from 8-12 May 2022.
The Sahel is a priority area for Italian international cooperation and this project intends to enhance the skills and competences of magistrates in these countries, strengthening their knowledge of the national, regional and international legal framework on the fight against terrorism and organised crime, cybercrime and personal data protection, as well as of the project management cycle. The provision of computer equipment and bibliographic material aims to support the daily activities of the judiciary in the Sahel countries, who operates in very difficult contexts.
“This initiative bears witness once again to Italy's commitment to Niger and the other countries of the Sahel, a key area in the geopolitical balances between Europe and Africa," comments the project director, Professor Andrea de Guttry, who also emphasizes that “the training courses that the Sant'Anna School is organising for magistrates in the Sahel and the computer and bibliographic equipment, which will be delivered to the most exposed magistrates, will help to strengthen the rule of law in an area that is crucial for the stability of the African continent and of Europe”.
